Langara Falcons point guard, and PacWest player of the week, Brody Greig. – Brian Jones Photo

Two questions have hung over the Langara College Falcons like a cumulus Vancouver cloud for over a month:

Are they as good as they were last year?

And, can they beat VIU?

The answer to the first question is subjective. They’ve lost big pieces from last year’s historical provincial championship run, but their best players have gotten better and the supporting cast is still one of the best second units in the PacWest.

They addressed the doubts that any skeptic (including myself) had about their depth last night, as the Falcons bench contributed 43 points in a 101-80 win over the Douglas College Royals at Langara’s campus.

Four of the starting fourth-years posted double-digit scoring numbers, and Maple Ridge’s Max Neumann had his best game of the adolescent season, adding 10 points, eight rebounds, three emphatic blocks and went a perfect two of two from distance in 17 minutes off the pine.

Brody Greig – perhaps the most entertaining player to watch in the PacWest – puts up his patented floater over Harp Randhawa during last season’s provincial tournament. – Brian Jones Photo

Regular-season record: 20-1

Provincial tournament: Gold medallists

National tournament: Bronze medallists

Key returning players:

Brody Greig (4th year)

Jitt Lohcham (4th year)

Elliot Mason (4th year)

Glen Ruby (4rd year)

Garrett Ling-Lee (4th year)

Daniel Hobden (4th year)

Matt Madewan (4th year)

Martin Appiah (2nd year)

Manpreet Parmar (2nd year)

Transfers:

Max Neumann (1st year –University of Alberta red shirt in ’12-’13)

Daniel Kim (2nd year – Douglas College)

Key losses:

Jesse Jeffers (Trinity Western University)

Randjodh Hare

Devin McMurtry (University of Northern British Columbia)

Jeff Chu (University of Northern British Columbia)

Rookies:

Jamie Madewan (R.C. Palmer Secondary)

Jesse Mushiana (Winston Churchill Secondary)

Devante Williams (Northview Heights – Toronto)

Nick Jhauj (Red shirt – Enver Creek Secondary)

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There’s been an emerging theme so far in the PacWest; forget the past, and this is a whole new season.

No such words of wisdom are more true for the Langara Falcons – who look to put their nearly-flawless season in the rearview as they gear up for another run at the provincial and national titles.

In 2012-13, the Falcons lost just one regular season matchup – a 102-100 loss to CBC that ended with Bearcats guard Kevin Ford banking in a three with just 1.8 seconds left in regulation. Before that CBC game, Langara began the season with 12-straight wins, and rattled off another 11 victories thereafter – a streak that stretched from January 25 to March 14, included a PacWest provincial title, as well as an opening-round win at nationals.

But then the wheels fell off an almost-perfect crafted vehicle, as PEI’s Holland College upset the surging Falcons in the national semifinals. Not quite ready to throw away everything they had worked towards, Langara battled back the next day, beating Red Deer and Sheridan to claim bronze.